RONNIE THE RAZOR SHARPENS REBELS

RAZOR-SHARP Ronnie Green's third-minute strike was enough on Saturday to earn the Rebels' first league win of 2005. But players and officials were later in a furious rage '” incensed that the offender apparently escaped scot-free when Chris Dicker was knocked out by the off-the-ball use of an opposing elbow.

In a fine flowing move, Dicker's 30-yard pass found Sam Francis down the left. His fine run and cross was inch-perfect for the onrushing Green to slide home from close range.

But then the first half finished on a sour note. Full-back Dicker, having been out for the count, was stretchered off while incensed players surrounded referee Alison Chapman as she left the pitch.

A pleased but upset Worthing boss Alan Pook raged afterwards: "The elbow on Chris Dicker should have been dealt with by the officials. I thought her performance indifferent to say the least. We have had her before but some of those decisions were hard to accept."

On the performance, Pook commented: "That first half was as good as we've been all season. We should have been at least 5-0 or 6-0 up at half-time. The commitment, passing and determination was exactly what we ask for and the lads deserve great credit."

In the first 45 minutes, Worthing laid seige, carved out at least nine great chances and virtually swamped a Northwood side on a run of three victories but without the division's leading scorer, 16-goal Dean Clark. Rebels could have been 3-0 up in the first 15 minutes.

A minute after the goal, Green found Francis with a pinpoint cross, only for the pacy forward to head over. Francis then returned the compliment 10 minutes later when he found Green with a hooked pass over his shoulder. Green beat two defenders but could only fire at Northwood keeper Rob Bullivent at an angle.

Sensing a second was imminent Worthing stayed on the front foot. Northwood had no answer to Green and none would have blamed them for raising the white flag of surrender.

Paul Rogers narrowly headed over from a Green corner, then nodded a curling, right-wing Green cross onto the bar. And from a Green cut-back, Liam Collins' shot deflected wide.

Francis smashed an effort onto a post and Nko Ekoku blazed over the best opening of all.

Rebels' inability to kill them off left the match in the balance and Northwood's attempts to stifle Rebels in the second half allowed just one chance to settle the game, which Collins sliced wide.

However, Worthing's first-half display may spark a new momentum towards the play-offs.